Trim attachment for buildings

ABSTRACT

A method and components for attaching a decorative cover having a closely conforming trim piece to a building structure, by attaching the decorative cover to the building structure with fasteners through holes in the cover and sliding the closely conforming trim piece along the attached cover until the trim piece overlays and hides the fasteners. This technique and associated components are suitable for installing a prefabricated corner post, a decorative covering and trim for a column, and a window or door mantle.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §§120 and 121 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/383,976 filed Mar. 21, 2009 for “Prefabricate Corner Post”.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to building construction, and more particularly, to decorative corner posts attachable to corners formed by exterior walls, decorative column panels and trim attached to column cores, and window or door mantles.

In the construction or renovation of modern buildings having a classic or colonial style, decorative corner posts attachable to the exterior walls provide a cost effective technique for simulating structural corner posts. Such decorative corner posts can be fabricated by a supplier and delivered to the building site for installation before or after the wall exterior siding, depending on the type of post and whether the siding is wood or vinyl. The corner posts can be made of wood or cellular PVC. The latter is often preferred, because raw material of the desired color can be purchased, cut, and seam welded into intricate decorative designs. In an analogous manner, decorative trim panels and molding can be applied to raw column cores on porches or the like.

With conventional corner posts and columns of this kind, the installer drills pilot holes through the post or panels for screwing or nailing the post or panel against the converging walls or column core. Window and door mantles are similarly fastened to a building wall. A careful installer would try to minimize the visibility of the fastening penetrations, but especially with pre-colored posts, panels, and mantles, any touch-up required after the installation adds to the labor cost of what should be a simple and straight forward installation.

SUMMARY

In a general aspect, the inventive concept is directed to attaching a decorative cover having a closely conforming trim piece to a building structure, by first attaching the decorative cover with a fastener through holes in the cover, and then sliding the closely conforming trim piece along the attached cover until the trim piece overlays and hides the fastener.

Installation of a decorative corner post is simplified by a trim piece that is slidable between an installation position and a final position, selectively exposing and then covering holes through which the corner post is attached to the walls at the corner of the building.

In one embodiment, an angled body has adjacent panels that form an inner corner having inner flat surfaces adapted to closely engage the building corner, and outer flat surface forming an outer corner. A trim piece closely conforms to and is slidable vertically along the outer surfaces between an installation position and a final position. Each panel of the body has a through hole from the outer to the inner surface at the final position of the trim piece. In the installation position of the trim piece the through holes are exposed for receiving screws to secure the body directly to the building walls, and thereafter the trim piece can be shifted to the final position to cover the holes and screws.

In the preferred embodiment a nailing flange extends from the inner flat surface of each panel, beyond the side edges, so the nailing flanges are readily accessible.

In the associated method, the trim piece is shifted to the installation position to expose the holes, and the internal corner of the corner post is placed against the corner of the building. The corner post is attached to the walls through the holes, and then the trim piece is shifted into the final position.

A given corner post would typically have the flange extend over the full vertical height of the building corner, with the shiftable trim pieces and associated holes located at least at the top and bottom of the corner post.

It can thus be appreciated that the installation of a corner post according to the invention immediately hides all nail or screw penetrations, thus avoiding unsightly blemishes or the need to fill, sand, and touch up such penetrations.

The same inventive concept can be used to provide decorative trim unit for columns, such as between a porch and the underside of an overhang or roof. A multi-side (generally four-sided) core for the column extends between and is fixed to a floor and a roof or the like. The trim unit has an angled (e.g., three-sided) front body for covering some but not all sides of the core. The front body is fastened such as by nailing or screwing to the core through mounting holes and then another, (e.g., one-sided) back body is connectable to the back edges of the front body and can also be nailed or screwed to the back side of the core, thereby completing the covering of all surfaces of the core. The mounting hole and fastener for each side of the body is at location near the top and optionally bottom of the core, such that after the fasteners have been driven in, top and optionally bottom molding or similar trim pieces can be slid over to hide the fasteners, and then glued in place.

When installing a mantle according to another aspect of the invention, the vertical base of the mantle is attached to the building wall through mounting holes, while a lower, slidable trim piece is at a bottom, installation position vertically spaced from an upper trim piece that is fixed to the base. The lower trim piece is then shifted upwardly and glued to the lower surface of the upper trim piece, thereby covering the mounting holes and completing the decorative portion of the mantle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A preferred embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic view of an exterior corner of a building on which a corner post according to the invention has been attached;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the outside of the corner post as viewed from the right of FIG. 1, before attachment to the building;

FIG. 3 is view of the top of the corner post, tilted forward, before attachment to the building;

FIG. 4 is a schematic corresponding to FIG. 2, showing top and bottom trim pieces in the installation and final (phantom) positions;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the corner post before attachment to the building, from the back; and

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment on a column;

FIGS. 7-9 show another embodiment on a column; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment on a window mantle or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a decorative corner post 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, attached to a building 100 having left 102 and right 104 exterior walls that meet at vertical corner 106 (shown where the post has been cut away). The post 10 does not provide structural support for the building 100 or walls 102, 104, but is adapted to abut with or receive edges of wood or vinyl siding 108. The present description will focus on an embodiment suitable for use with vinyl siding.

As shown with further reference to FIGS. 2-5, the post 10 includes an angled body 12 having adjacent panels 14, 16 that form an elongated inside or concave vertical corner 18 having inner flat surfaces 20, 22 adapted to closely engage the elongated external convex building corner 106, and an elongated convex external corner 24 forming outer flat surfaces 26 that extend to side edges 28, 30. The outer surface remains visible after the corner post is attached to the building corner. Particularly for use with vinyl siding, but not required for use with wood siding, a nailing flange 32, 34 extends from the inner flat surface of each panel beyond a respective side edge 28, 30 of the outer surface.

A trim piece 36 closely conforms to and is slidable vertically along the outer surface between an installation position 38 and a final position 40. Each panel of the body has a through hole 42, preferably counter bored, passing from the outer to the inner surface at the final position of the trim piece. In the installation position of the trim piece the through holes are exposed for receiving screws to secure the body directly to the building walls, and thereafter the trim piece can be shifted to the final position to cover the holes and screws.

The post as described above is pre-fabricated and delivered to the building site, where the installer slides the trim piece to the installation position 38 to expose the holes 42, then places the post against the building corner as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the internal corner 18 of the corner post is against the corner 106 of the building. The corner post is attached to the walls 102, 104 through the holes 42 via fasteners such as screws or nails, and then the trim piece is shifted to the final position 40.

The body 12 and trim piece 36 are preferably made of solid cellular PVC, whereas the flange is preferably made of a semi-rigid vinyl.

Preferably, for use with vinyl siding, each body panel 14, 16 includes a thicker base portion 44, 46 in which the holes are located and which defines the inner surface that closely overlies the walls 102, 104 and a thinner rim portion 50, 52. The rim portions 50, 52 extend from of the base portions, and define the side edges 28, 30 of the outer surface 26, with a vertical channel 54, 56 formed between the base portion and the nailing flange. During installation, the flanges 32, 34 are nailed to the walls 102, 104 through holes 82, either before or after the post is screwed in through holes 42. The channels 54, 56 have a width similar to the overall thickness profile of vinyl siding, for receiving the edges of the vinyl siding. The depth of the channels provides sufficient tolerance for receiving edges on siding elements that may not all be exactly the same length, while presenting a uniform external interface between the siding and the side edges 28, 30 of the post.

In a further preference, a lateral edge 66, 68 of each base portion forms a bottom of a respective channel 54, 56, a groove 70, 72 extends vertically in the bottom of each channel, and the nailing flange has a fin 74, 76 that is secured via interference or press fit in the groove. A flat tab portion 78, 80 with a vertical row of nail holes 82 adjacent the outer edge is substantially coplanar with the inner surfaces 20, 22 of the body, whereby both the inner surfaces 20, 22 and the tabs 78, 80 of the nailing flange lie flat against the unfinished walls 102,104.

The trim piece preferably has sides 58, 60 that extend beyond the side edges 28, 30 of the outer surface 26 and include guide surfaces 62, 64 slidable along the side edges (e.g., rim portions) of the outer surface. The sides 58, 60 also extend toward the nailing flange 32, 34, whereby the guide surfaces 62, 64 cooperate with the side edges 28, 30 to prevent the trim piece from pulling away from the outer surface of the body. To facilitate nailing of the flanges, the tabs 78 and row of holes 82 can extend laterally beyond the outer edges of the trim pieces, but this is not necessary so long as the row of holes is accessible laterally outside of the edges 28, 30 of surface 26.

Typically, one trim piece 36 with holes 42 is located adjacent the top 86 of the post and another trim piece 84 with holes 42′ is located adjacent the bottom 88 of the post. Additional trim pieces such as shown at 90 in FIG. 2 can also be provided with similar installation functionality.

The body 12 is preferably uniform at least adjacent the top 86 and bottom 88 of the post, such that during fabrication (or even on site) the top 36 and bottom 84 trim pieces can easily be fit onto the body with the sides 58, 60 of the trim pieces positioned in close relation with the rims 50, 52. As is evident from FIG. 3, once this close relationship is established, the trim pieces 36, 84 can be shifted centrally away from the top and bottom, respectively, with the guide surfaces 62, 64 preventing the trim pieces from pulling away from the body.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of a square trim piece 92 around a square decorative column cover 94. The structural column 96 can be solid (as shown) or boxed by the rigid connection of four elongated, flat boards. Preferably, the decorative column 94 with at least top and bottom trim pieces 92 carried thereon, are delivered as integrated units to the site, pre-cut to a standard or custom-ordered length. The holes 98 on each trim piece element 100, 102, 104, 106 correspond to holes 42 in the other Figures.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show a variation that is more convenient to install than the embodiment of FIG. 6, on a rectangular structural column such as wood core 96. The three cover panels 108, 110, and 112 can be considered as one side, the front, and the other side, respectively of the column. Panel 114 would thus be the back panel. In the variation, these panels 108, 110, and 112 are rigidly secured together (e.g., glued and lock mitered at the factory) to form a first body 116 extending from the top to the bottom of the core and defining a first inner surface 118 for conforming to a first, three-sided portion of the core and a first outer decorative surface 120 for the core. The back panel 114 can be considered a second body extending from the top to the bottom of the core and defining a second inner surface 122 for conforming to a second, back portion of the core and a second outer decorative surface 124 for the core.

Through holes 126, 126′ are provided from the outer to the inner surfaces of at least the first body, whereby at least the panels of the first body can be attached with fasteners 128 to the respective portions of the core 96. The first body has first edges 130 a, b and the second body has second edges 132 a, b which are joinable with each other when the first and second bodies are both conforming to the core. This joining is preferably also by glued and lock mitered edges. When the edges are so joined the first and second bodies provide a decorative external cover for the entire core.

A unitary, rectilinear trim piece 134 having three sides closely conforming to and slidable over the respective outer surface of the three panels of the first body 116, is shifted between an installation position at which the holes 126 are exposed for receiving fasteners 128 and a final position at which the holes are covered. The second body 114 can likewise carry a slidable trim piece 136 for hiding a hole 126′ and fastener 128′ into the core. Preferably, each of the bodies has a portion of a top trim piece or cornice 138, 140 for the column that rigidly projects transversely from the bodies, such that a complete cornice is formed when the bodies are joined and the edges 142, 144 of the top pieces are glued to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, preferably each panel of the first body has a vertical short groove 146 adjacent the top and preferably the bottom of the column, and the first trim piece 134 has a plug or lug projection 148 or the like which can travel in the groove. The lug and groove align and guide the trim piece 134 (and analogously 136) during travel. In the installation position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the holes 126 are exposed, whereas in the final position the trim piece 134 would be shifted to cover the groove 146, hole 126 and fastener 128. In all embodiments a transverse surface such as 134′ of the trim piece can be adhered without fasteners to a rigid transverse surface such as 138′ of the cover (e.g., of the cornice or crown or the like) as the trim piece slides to the final position overlying the fasteners.

It should be appreciated that the bottom of the column can be trimmed in a corresponding manner, i.e., such as bottom trim piece 134A shown adhered in the final position to rigid base 138A in FIG. 9). Alternatively, the techniques described with respect to FIG. 6 can be used at the bottom of the column. As another variation, it is not absolutely necessary that the back cover panel 114 be mounted directly onto the back side of the core 96 via holes 126′ and fastener 128′. The glued joints between 130 and 132 can in some cases be sufficient to support the back panel 114.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show one half of a symmetric mantle unit 150 having a base 152, a crown upper portion 154 and a crown lower portion 156 spaced from the upper portion in an installation position and glued to the lower surface of the upper portion in a final position, respectively. When the lower portion 156 is in the installation position, mounting holes 158 in the base are visible. A groove 160 extends vertically in the front face of the base and a mating plug or lug 162 on the back side of the crown lower portion 156 travels in the groove, whereby the lower portion is aligned and guided during sliding between the installation and final positions. The lug and groove are configured such that the mounting holes and the groove are not visible when the crown is completed by adhering the confronting transverse surfaces 154′ and 156′.

The base 152 of the mantle can include laterally extending flat flanges 164 with nail holes 166, for initial mounting of the mantle unit to the building wall 168 in a manner that permits siding strips of the like (not shown) to be slid into a channel 170 formed between the flange 164 and a frontal portion 170 of the base, as described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. 

1. A method of attaching a decorative cover having a closely conforming trim piece to a building structure, comprising: attaching the decorative cover to the building structure with fasteners through mounting holes in the cover; and sliding the closely conforming trim piece along the attached cover until the trim piece overlays and hides the fasteners position.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trim piece slides along and is maintained in alignment with the cover by a projection on one of the trim piece or cover traveling along a groove in the other of the trim piece or cover until the trim piece reaches a final position; and the groove and fasteners are covered by the trim piece when in the final position.
 3. The method of claim 1, including adhering a surface of the trim piece to a surface of the cover without fasteners as the trim piece slides to a final position overlaying the fasteners.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover is a prefabricated corner post and the building structure is defined by adjacent walls that form an external, vertically extending corner on the building, comprising the steps of: selecting a corner post including an angled body having (i) adjacent panels that form an internal corner with inner flat surfaces adapted to closely engage the building corner, and an external corner forming outer flat surfaces that extend to side edges, (ii) a flange extending from the inner flat surface of each panel beyond a respective side edge of the outer surface, and (iii) a trim piece closely conforming to and slidable vertically along the outer surfaces between an installation position and a final position; each of said panels of the body having a mounting hole from the outer to the inner surface at the final position of the trim piece; sliding the trim piece to the installation position to expose the mounting holes; placing the internal corner of the corner post against the corner of the building; attaching the corner post to the walls through the mounting holes; and sliding the trim piece into the final position where the trim piece overlaps and hides the fasteners.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover surrounds a rigid core of a multi-sided structural column and the method comprises: placing a first body having at least two sides around and covering a corresponding two sides of the core; attaching the first body to the core with fasteners through mounting holes in the first body; placing a second body having at least one side around and covering at least one other side of the core; attaching the first and second bodies to each other to cover the entire core; sliding a multi-angled first trim piece along the first body from an installation position wherein the mounting holes with fasteners are visible to a final position in which the trim piece covers the mounting holes with fasteners.
 6. The method of claim 5 including attaching the second body to the core with fasteners through second mounting holes in the second body; and sliding a second trim piece along the second body from an installation position wherein the second mounting holes with fasteners are visible to a final position in which the second trim piece covers the second mounting holes and fasteners.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein a first cornice is fixed to the top of the first body and the first trim piece is adhered to the cornice in the final position of the first trim piece.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein a second cornice is fixed to the top of the second body and the second trim piece is adhered to the second cornice in the final position of the second trim piece.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein a first cornice is fixed to the top of the first body and the first trim piece is adhered to the cornice in the final position of the first trim piece; a second cornice is fixed to the top of the second body and the second trim piece is adhered to the second cornice in the final position of the second trim piece; and the first and second trim pieces are adhered to each other.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover is a flat base portion of a mantle, having a front face and mounting through holes, and the method includes with fasteners through the mounting holes, attaching the base to and thereby covering a portion of a building wall; sliding a crown lower portion along the front face of the base from an installation position below the mounting holes with fasteners to a final position in which the lower portion covers the mounting hole and fasteners; and in the final position, attaching the crown lower portion to a crown upper portion that is fixed to the base.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the crown slides along and is aligned relative to the base by a groove extending vertically in the front face of the base or the lower portion and a mating projection on the lower portion or the front face of the base, as the projection travels in the groove.
 12. A prefabricated trim unit for covering a core of a building column having a top and a bottom, comprising: a first body extending from the top to the bottom of the core and defining a first inner surface for closely conforming to a first portion of the core and a first outer decorative surface for the core; a second body extending from the top to the bottom of the core and defining a second inner surface for closely conforming to a second portion of the core and a second outer decorative surface for the core; a through hole from the outer to the inner surfaces of at least the first body, whereby at least the first body can be attached with a fastener to the respective portion of the core; said first body having first edges and said second body having second edges which are joinable with each other when the first and second bodies are both closely conforming with the core, whereby when the edges are so joined the first and second bodies provide a decorative external cover for the entire core; and a trim piece closely conforming to and slidable over the outer surface of the first body, between an installation position at which the through holes are exposed for receiving fasteners and a final position at which the holes are covered.
 13. The trim unit of claim 12, wherein one slidable trim piece and associated through hole are located adjacent the top of the first body and another slidable trim piece and associated through hole are located adjacent the bottom of the first body.
 14. The trim unit of claim 12, including a through hole from the outer to the inner surfaces of the second body, whereby the second body can be attached with a fastener to the respective portion of the core; and a trim piece closely conforming to and slidable over the outer surface of the second body, between an installation position at which the holes are exposed for receiving fasteners and a final position at which the holes are covered.
 15. The trim unit of claim 12, wherein the first body has three rectilinear panels defining a front and two sides of the body for covering a front and two sides of the core, each of said sides having an edge; the second body has a single panel for covering the back of the core and two edges for mating with the edges on the first body.
 16. The trim unit of claim 15, including a through hole from the outer to the inner surfaces of the second body, whereby the second body can be attached with a fastener to the respective portion of the core; and a trim piece closely conforming to and slidable over the outer surface of the second body, between an installation position at which the holes are exposed for receiving fasteners and a final position at which the holes are covered.
 17. A mantle unit comprising: a flat base having mounting through holes for attaching the base to and thereby covering a portion of a building wall; a crown upper portion fixed to and extending transversely forward of the base; a crown lower portion slidable along the base between an installation position spaced from the crown upper portion and a final position abutting the crown upper portion; wherein when the lower portion is in the installation position, the mounting holes in the base are visible and when the lower portion is in the final position the lower portion covers the mounting holes.
 18. The mantle unit of claim 17, including a groove extending vertically in a front face of the base or the lower portion and a mating projection on the lower portion or the front face of the base, whereby the lower portion is aligned and guided by the projection traveling in the groove during sliding between the installation and final positions.
 19. The mantle unit of claim 18, wherein the projection and groove are configured such that the mounting holes and the groove are not visible when the lower portion abuts the upper portion.
 20. The mantle of claim 19, wherein flat flanges with spaced apart nail holes extend laterally from the base. 